1. |
De Sio L.♦, Ding B.♦, Focsan M.♦, Kogermann K.♦, Pascoal-Faria P.♦, Petronella F.♦, Mitchell G.♦, Zussman E.♦, Pierini F., Personalized reusable face masks with smart nano‐assisted destruction of pathogens for COVID‐19: a visionary road,
Chemistry - A European Journal, ISSN: 0947-6539, DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004875, Vol.27, pp.1-20, 2021 Streszczenie: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) emergency has demonstrated that the utilization of face masks plays a critical role in limiting the outbreaks. Healthcare professionals utilize masks all day long without replacing them very frequently, thus representing a source of cross‐infection for patients and themselves. Nanotechnology is a powerful tool with the capability to produce nanomaterials with unique physicochemical and anti‐pathogen properties. Here, we outline how to realize non‐disposable and highly comfortable respirators with light‐triggered self‐disinfection ability by bridging bioactive nanofiber properties and stimuli‐responsive nanomaterials. The visionary road highlighted in this Concept is based on the possibility to develop a new generation of masks based on multifunctional membranes where the presence of nanoclusters and plasmonic nanoparticles arranged in a hierarchical structure enables the realization of a chemically‐driven and on‐demand anti‐pathogen activities. Multilayer electrospun membranes have the ability to dissipate humidity present within the mask, enhancing the wearability and usability. The photo‐thermal disinfected membrane is the core of these 3D printed and reusable masks with moisture pump capability. Personalized face masks with smart nano‐assisted destruction of pathogens will bring enormous advantages to the entire global community, especially for front‐line personnel, and will open up great opportunities for innovative medical applications. Słowa kluczowe: face masks, light-responsive nanomaterials, anti-pathogen, electrospinning, digitally personalized Afiliacje autorów:
De Sio L. | - | Sapienza University of Rome (IT) | Ding B. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Focsan M. | - | inna afiliacja | Kogermann K. | - | inna afiliacja | Pascoal-Faria P. | - | inna afiliacja | Petronella F. | - | inna afiliacja | Mitchell G. | - | inna afiliacja | Zussman E. | - | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (IL) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 140p. |
2. |
Lanzi M.♦, Pierini F., Efficient and thermally stable BHJ solar cells based on a soluble hydroxy-functionalized regioregular polydodecylthiophene,
REACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS, ISSN: 1381-5148, DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2020.104803, Vol.158, pp.104803-1-12, 2021 Streszczenie: A new regioregular polythiophene derivative, called poly[3-(12-hydroxydodecyl)thiophene] (PT12OH), was synthesized by post-functionalizing its ω-brominated precursor poly[3-(12-bromododecyl)thiophene] (PT12Br) prepared using the Grignard metathesis route. Thanks to the optimal balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups within its structure, PT12OH was highly soluble and easily filmable from common organic solvents allowing for its complete characterization. It also showed enhanced thermal properties, crystallinity, and self-assembling capabilities by the formation of strong inter- and intrachain hydrogen bonds. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells with PT12OH and PC61BM showed a PCE of 4.83% and a remarkable over-time stability, offering good photoconversion efficiency even after 120 h of accelerated aging. Indeed, the PCE decrease was 34% for the hydroxylated polymer and 65% for its brominated precursor. It should also be pointed out that the enhanced thermal stability of PT12OH was achieved without resorting to any complex post-annealing photochemical, thermal, or chemical treatment and was thus directly ascribable to the polymer chemical structure. The simple and effective synthetic procedure, photovoltaic efficiency, and enhanced stability revealed the potential of PT12OH for large-scale organic solar cell applications. Słowa kluczowe: bulk heterojunction solar cell, regioregular polythiophene derivatives, post-polymerization functionalization, over-time stability Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 70p. |
3. |
Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Rinoldi C., Ziai Y., De Sio L.♦, Urbanek O., Zembrzycki K., Pruchniewski M.♦, Lanzi M.♦, Salatelli E.♦, Calogero A.♦, Kowalewski T.A., Yarin A.L.♦, Pierini F., Multifunctional platform based on electrospun nanofibers and plasmonic hydrogel: a smart nanostructured pillow for near-Infrared light-driven biomedical applications,
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, ISSN: 1944-8244, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c13266, Vol.12, No.49, pp.54328-54342, 2020 Streszczenie: Multifunctional nanomaterials with the ability torespond to near-infrared (NIR) light stimulation are vital for thedevelopment of highly efficient biomedical nanoplatforms with apolytherapeutic approach. Inspired by the mesoglea structure ofjellyfish bells, a biomimetic multifunctional nanostructured pillowwith fast photothermal responsiveness for NIR light-controlled on-demand drug delivery is developed. We fabricate a nanoplatformwith several hierarchical levels designed to generate a series ofcontrolled, rapid, and reversible cascade-like structural changesupon NIR light irradiation. The mechanical contraction of thenanostructured platform, resulting from the increase of temper-ature to 42°C due to plasmonic hydrogel−light interaction, causesa rapid expulsion of water from the inner structure, passing through an electrospun membrane anchored onto the hydrogel core. Themutual effects of the rise in temperature and waterflow stimulate the release of molecules from the nanofibers. To expand thepotential applications of the biomimetic platform, the photothermal responsiveness to reach the typical temperature level forperforming photothermal therapy (PTT) is designed. The on-demand drug model penetration into pig tissue demonstrates theefficiency of the nanostructured platform in the rapid and controlled release of molecules, while the high biocompatibility confirmsthe pillow potential for biomedical applications based on the NIR light-driven multitherapy strategy. Słowa kluczowe: bioinspired materials, NIR-light responsive nanomaterials, multifunctional platforms, electrospun nanofibers, plasmonic hydrogel, photothermal-based polytherapy, on-demand drug delivery Afiliacje autorów:
Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Rinoldi C. | - | IPPT PAN | Ziai Y. | - | IPPT PAN | De Sio L. | - | Sapienza University of Rome (IT) | Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Pruchniewski M. | - | inna afiliacja | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Salatelli E. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Calogero A. | - | Sapienza University of Rome (IT) | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN | Yarin A.L. | - | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (IL) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 200p. |
4. |
Pierini F., Guglielmelli A.♦, Urbanek O., Nakielski P., Pezzi L.♦, Buda R.♦, Lanzi M.♦, Kowalewski T.A., De Sio L.♦, Thermoplasmonic‐activated hydrogel based dynamic light attenuator,
Advanced Optical Materials, ISSN: 2195-1071, DOI: 10.1002/adom.202000324, Vol.8, No.12, pp.2000324-1-7, 2020 Streszczenie: This work describes the morphological, optical, and thermo‐optical properties of a temperature‐sensitive hydrogel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N‐isopropylmethacrylamide) [P(NIPAm‐co‐NIPMAm]) film containing a specific amount of gold nanorods (GNRs). The light‐induced thermoplasmonic heating of GNRs is used to control the optical scattering of an initially transparent hydrogel film. A hydrated P(NIPAm‐co‐NIPMAm) film is optically clear at room temperature. When heated to temperatures over 37 °C via light irradiation with a resonant source (λ = 810 nm) to the GNRs, a reversible phase transition from a swollen hydrated state to a shrunken dehydrated state occurs. This phenomenon causes a drastic and reversible change in the optical transparency from a clear to an opaque state. A significant red shift (≈30 nm) of the longitudinal band can also be seen due to an increased average refractive index surrounding the GNRs. This change is in agreement with an ad hoc theoretical model which uses a modified Gans theory for ellipsoidal nanoparticles. Morphological analysis of the composite film shows the presence of well‐isolated and randomly dispersed GNRs. Thermo‐optical experiments demonstrate an all‐optically controlled light attenuator (65% contrast ratio) which can be easily integrated in several modern optical applications such as smart windows and light‐responsive optical attenuators. Słowa kluczowe: active plasmonics, gold nanorods, hydrogels, optical attenuators, optical transparency, plasmonic nanoparticles, polymers Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Guglielmelli A. | - | University of Calabria (IT) | Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pezzi L. | - | inna afiliacja | Buda R. | - | Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL) | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN | De Sio L. | - | Sapienza University of Rome (IT) |
|  | 140p. |
5. |
Wang L.♦, Lv H.♦, Liu L.♦, Zhang Q.♦, Nakielski P., Si Y.♦, Cao J.♦, Li X.♦, Pierini F., Yu J.♦, Ding B.♦, Electrospun nanofiber-reinforced three-dimensional chitosan matrices: architectural, mechanical and biological properties,
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE, ISSN: 0021-9797, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.016, Vol.565, pp.416-425, 2020 Streszczenie: The poor intrinsic mechanical properties of chitosan hydrogels have greatly hindered their practical applications. Inspired by nature, we proposed a strategy to enhance the mechanical properties of chitosan hydrogels by construction of a nanofibrous and cellular architecture in the hydrogel without toxic chemical crosslinking. To this end, electrospun nanofibers including cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile, and SiO2 nanofibers were introduced into chitosan hydrogels by homogenous dispersion and lyophilization. With the addition of 30% cellulose acetate nanofibers, the cellular structure could be maintained even in water without crosslinking, and integration of 60% of the nanofibers could guarantee the free-standing structure of the chitosan hydrogel with a low solid content of 1%. Moreover, the SiO2 nanofiber-reinforced chitosan (SiO2 NF/CS) three-dimensional (3D) matrices exhibit complete shape recovery from 80% compressive strain and excellent injectability. The cellular architecture and nanofibrous structure in the SiO2 NF/CS matrices are beneficial for human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and stretching. Furthermore, the SiO2 NF/CS matrices can also act as powerful vehicles for drug delivery. As an example, bone morphogenetic protein 2 could be immobilized on SiO2 NF/CS matrices to induce osteogenic differentiation. Together, the electrospun nanofiber-reinforced 3D chitosan matrices exhibited improved mechanical properties and enhanced biofunctionality, showing great potential in tissue engineering. Słowa kluczowe: chitosan hydrogel, electrospun nanofiber, mechanical property, nanofibrous matrix, tissue engineering Afiliacje autorów:
Wang L. | - | Imperial College London (GB) | Lv H. | - | Medical College of Soochow University (CN) | Liu L. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Zhang Q. | - | Medical College of Soochow University (CN) | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Si Y. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Cao J. | - | inna afiliacja | Li X. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Yu J. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Ding B. | - | Donghua University (CN) |
|  | 100p. |
6. |
Pawłowska S., Rinoldi C., Nakielski P., Ziai Y., Urbanek O., Li X.♦, Kowalewski T.A., Ding B.♦, Pierini F., Ultraviolet light‐assisted electrospinning of core–shell fully cross‐linked P(NIPAAm‐co‐NIPMAAm) hydrogel‐based nanofibers for thermally induced drug delivery self‐regulation,
Advanced Materials Interfaces, ISSN: 2196-7350, DOI: 10.1002/admi.202000247, Vol.7, No.12, pp.2000247-1-13, 2020 Streszczenie: Body tissues and organs have complex functions which undergo intrinsic changes during medical treatments. For the development of ideal drug delivery systems, understanding the biological tissue activities is necessary to be able to design materials capable of changing their properties over time, on the basis of the patient's tissue needs. In this study, a nanofibrous thermal‐responsive drug delivery system is developed. The thermo‐responsivity of the system makes it possible to self‐regulate the release of bioactive molecules, while reducing the drug delivery at early stages, thus avoiding high concentrations of drugs which may be toxic for healthy cells. A co‐axial electrospinning technique is used to fabricate core–shell cross‐linked copolymer poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N‐isopropylmethacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm‐co‐NIPMAAm)) hydrogel‐based nanofibers. The obtained nanofibers are made of a core of thermo‐responsive hydrogel containing a drug model, while the outer shell is made of poly‐l‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone (PLCL). The custom‐made electrospinning apparatus enables the in situ cross‐linking of P(NIPAAm‐co‐NIPMAAm) hydrogel into a nanoscale confined space, which improves the electrospun nanofiber drug dosing process, by reducing its provision and allowing a self‐regulated release control. The mechanism of the temperature‐induced release control is studied in depth, and it is shown that the system is a promising candidate as a "smart" drug delivery platform. Słowa kluczowe: biomimetic nanomaterials, electrospun core–shell nanofibers, hierarchical nanostructures, smart drug delivery, thermo‐responsive hydrogels Afiliacje autorów:
Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Rinoldi C. | - | IPPT PAN | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Ziai Y. | - | IPPT PAN | Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Li X. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN | Ding B. | - | Donghua University (CN) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 100p. |
7. |
Sankaran A.♦, Pawłowska S., Pierini F., Kowalewski T.A., Yarin A.L.♦, Dynamics of electrospun hydrogel filaments in oscillatory microchannel flows: a theoretical and experimental approach,
PHYSICS OF FLUIDS, ISSN: 1070-6631, DOI: 10.1063/5.0011005, Vol.32, No.7, pp.072008-1-13, 2020 Streszczenie: The dynamics of highly flexible micro- and nano-filaments are important to a variety of biological, medical, and industrial problems. The filament configuration variation and cross-stream migration in a microchannel are affected by thermal fluctuations in addition to elastic and viscous forces. Here, hydrogel nano-filaments with small bending Young's moduli are utilized to elucidate the transitional behavior of elastic Brownian filaments in an oscillatory microchannel flow. A numerical model based on chain elastic dumbbells similar to the Rouse-Zimm model accounting for elastic, viscous, and random Brownian forces is proposed and implemented. In addition, a theoretical model to describe the average orientation–deformation tensor evolution for an ensemble of filaments in an oscillatory flow is proposed. The results are compared with the evolution observed in the experiments. Afiliacje autorów:
Sankaran A. | - | inna afiliacja | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN | Yarin A.L. | - | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (IL) |
|  | 100p. |
8. |
Lanzi M.♦, Salatelli E.♦, Marinelli M.♦, Pierini F., Effect of photocrosslinking of D‐A thiophene copolymers on the performance of single‐material solar cells,
Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, ISSN: 1022-1352, DOI: 10.1002/macp.201900433, Vol.221, No.2, pp.1900433-1-12, 2020 Streszczenie: Side‐chain C60‐fullerene functionalized alkylthiophene copolymers with different regioregularity and fullerene content are successfully synthesized using a simple and straightforward post‐polymerization functionalization procedure based on a Grignard coupling reaction. The products are employed as single materials in photoactive layers of organic photovoltaic solar cells. The use of double‐cable polymers allows an enhanced control on the nanomorphology of the active blend, reducing the phase‐segregation phenomena as well as the macroscale separation between the electron acceptor and donor components. With the insertion of a thin layer of gold nanoparticles between buffer and active layer of the cells, a conversion efficiency of 5.68% is obtained. Moreover, an increased stability over time is achieved when the copolymers are photocrosslinked immediately after the annealing procedure, leading to acceptable efficiencies even after 80 h of accelerated ageing, a key feature for widespread applicability of the prepared devices. Słowa kluczowe: conjugated polymers, fullerenes, functionalization of polymers, metathesis Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Salatelli E. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Marinelli M. | - | inna afiliacja | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 70p. |
9. |
Bartali R.♦, Zhang G.♦, Tong X.♦, Speranza G.♦, Micheli V.♦, Gottardi G.♦, Fedrizzi M.♦, Pierini F., Sun S.♦, Laidani N.♦, Tavares A.C.♦, Graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide films as protective barriers on lead against differential aeration corrosion induced by water drops,
Nanoscale Advances, ISSN: 2516-0230, DOI: 10.1039/d0na00212g, Vol.2, No.11, pp.5412-5420, 2020 Streszczenie: Graphene-based materials have demonstrated high chemical stability and are very promising for protection against the corrosion of metal surfaces. For this reason, in this work, protective layers composed of graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and their mixtures were investigated, respectively, against the corrosion of the surface of lead induced by water drops. The materials were deposited on a Pb surface from their suspensions using a Meyer rod. The surface chemical composition, morphology and structure of the coatings were studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and stylus profilometry. Moreover, a specific methodology based on the evolution of the water contact angle with time was used to evaluate the reactivity of the lead surface. The results show that the graphene-based materials can form an efficient barrier layer against the degradation of the Pb surface and that the degradation process induced by water is reduced by more than 70%. Moreover, unexpectedly, the best protective performance was obtained using graphene oxide as the coating. Afiliacje autorów:
Bartali R. | - | inna afiliacja | Zhang G. | - | inna afiliacja | Tong X. | - | inna afiliacja | Speranza G. | - | inna afiliacja | Micheli V. | - | inna afiliacja | Gottardi G. | - | inna afiliacja | Fedrizzi M. | - | inna afiliacja | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Sun S. | - | inna afiliacja | Laidani N. | - | inna afiliacja | Tavares A.C. | - | inna afiliacja |
|  | 20p. |
10. |
Nakielski P., Pierini F., Blood interactions with nano- and microfibers: recent advances, challenges and applications in nano- and microfibrous hemostatic agents,
Acta Biomaterialia, ISSN: 1742-7061, DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.11.029, Vol.84, pp.63-76, 2019 Streszczenie: Nanofibrous materials find a wide range of applications, such as vascular grafts, tissue-engineered scaffolds, or drug delivery systems. This phenomenon can be attributed to almost arbitrary biomaterial modification opportunities created by a multitude of polymers used to form nanofibers, as well as by surface functionalization methods. Among these applications, the hemostatic activity of nanofibrous materials is gaining more and more interest in biomedical research. It is therefore crucial to find both materials and nanofiber structural properties that affect organism responses. The present review critically analyzes the response of blood elements to natural and synthetic polymers, and their blends and composites. Also assessed in this review is the incorporation of pro-coagulative substances or drugs that can decrease bleeding time. The review also discusses the main animal models that were used to assess hemostatic agent safety and effectiveness. Słowa kluczowe: blood-biomaterial interactions, coagulation, electrospinning, nanofibers, platelets, hemorrhage Afiliacje autorów:
Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 140p. |
11. |
Enayati M.S.♦, Neisiany R.E.♦, Sajkiewicz P., Behzad T.♦, Denis P., Pierini F., Effect of nanofiller incorporation on thermomechanical and toughness of poly (vinyl alcohol)-based electrospun nanofibrous bionanocomposites,
Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, ISSN: 0167-8442, DOI: 10.1016/j.tafmec.2018.11.006, Vol.99, pp.44-50, 2019 Streszczenie: The current work studies the electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers and its nanocomposites including nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and nHAp/cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), emphasizing the impact of nanofillers on the toughness of nanofibers. PVA nanofibers were incorporated with 10 wt% of nHAp and then various amounts of CNF were added to subsequent PVA/nHAp fibrous nanocomposites. The morphology of nonwoven mats was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). While neat PVA nanofibers were smooth and uniform in thickness, the nanofiller loading resulted in thinner fibers with less uniformity. Furthermore, the thermal properties of the nonwoven network of fibers were characterized employing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Although the maximum loss mass temperature of PVA was partially reduced upon addition of nanofillers, the onset of decomposition was not altered. The mechanical characterizations were performed using static tensile and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Compared to neat PVA mats, the tensile test of nanocomposites mats demonstrated the significant increase in Young's modulus; however, strain at break was dramatically reduced. In addition, the fracture work was assessed from the area under the stress-strain curve, which showed brittleness of fibrous nanocomposites due to the nanofiller incorporation. Field emission SEM (FE-SEM) was employed to scan the fracture surface of stretched fibers. The increase in modulus of electrospun mats was also shown by DMA in frequency mode. In parallel, both tensile test and DMA confirmed the change in fracture of PVA fibers from a tough to brittle mode, due to the nanofiller addition. Słowa kluczowe: electrospun nanocomposites, nanofillers, toughness, mechanical properties Afiliacje autorów:
Enayati M.S. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Neisiany R.E. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Sajkiewicz P. | - | IPPT PAN | Behzad T. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Denis P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 100p. |
12. |
Lanzi M.♦, Pierini F., Effect of electron-acceptor content on the efficiency of regioregular double-cable thiophene copolymers in single-material organic solar cells,
ACS Omega, ISSN: 2470-1343, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02790, Vol.4, No.22, pp.19863-19874, 2019 Streszczenie: Three regioregular thiophenic copolymers, characterized by a bromine atom or a C60-fullerene group at different molar ratios at the end of a decamethylenic plastifying side chain, have been successfully synthesized using a straightforward postpolymerization functionalization procedure based on a Grignard coupling reaction. Owing to their good solubility in common organic solvents, the products were fully characterized using chromatographic, spectroscopic, thermal, and morphological techniques and used as single materials in the photoactive layers of organic solar cells. The photoconversion efficiencies obtained with copolymers were compared with those of a reference cell prepared using a physical blend of the precursor homopolymer and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester. The best results were obtained with COP2, the copolymer with a 21% molar content of C60-functionalized side chains. The use of the double-cable polymer made possible an enhanced control on the nanomorphology of the active blend, thus reducing phase-segregation phenomena as well as the macroscale separation between the electron-acceptor and -donor components, yielding a power conversion efficiency higher than that of the reference cell (4.05 vs 3.68%). Moreover, the presence of the halogen group was exploited for the photo-cross-linking of the active layer immediately after the thermal annealing procedure. The cross-linked samples showed an increased stability over time, leading to good efficiencies even after 120 h of accelerated aging: this was a key feature for the widespread practical applicability of the prepared devices. Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 70p. |
13. |
Pierini F., Nakielski P., Urbanek O., Pawłowska S., Lanzi M.♦, De Sio L.♦, Kowalewski T.A., Polymer-Based Nanomaterials for Photothermal Therapy: From Light-Responsive to Multifunctional Nanoplatforms for Synergistically Combined Technologies,
BIOMACROMOLECULES, ISSN: 1525-7797, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01138, Vol.19, No.11, pp.4147-4167, 2018 Streszczenie: Materials for the treatment of cancer have been studied comprehensively over the past few decades. Among the various kinds of biomaterials, polymer-based nanomaterials represent one of the most interesting research directions in nanomedicine because their controlled synthesis and tailored designs make it possible to obtain nanostructures with biomimetic features and outstanding biocompatibility. Understanding the chemical and physical mechanisms behind the cascading stimuli-responsiveness of smart polymers is fundamental for the design of multifunctional nanomaterials to be used as photothermal agents for targeted polytherapy. In this review, we offer an in-depth overview of the recent advances in polymer nanomaterials for photothermal therapy, describing the features of three different types of polymer-based nanomaterials. In each case, we systematically show the relevant benefits, highlighting the strategies for developing light-controlled multifunctional nanoplatforms that are responsive in a cascade manner and addressing the open issues by means of an inclusive state-of-the-art review. Moreover, we face further challenges and provide new perspectives for future strategies for developing novel polymeric nanomaterials for photothermally assisted therapies. Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | De Sio L. | - | Sapienza University of Rome (IT) | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 45p. |
14. |
Enayati M.S., Behzad T.♦, Sajkiewicz P., Bagheri R.♦, Ghasemi-Mobarakeh L.♦, Pierini F., Theoretical and experimental study of the stiffness of electrospun composites of poly(vinyl alcohol), cellulose nanofibers, and nanohydroxy apatite,
CELLULOSE, ISSN: 0969-0239, DOI: 10.1007/s10570-017-1601-6, Vol.25, No.1, pp.65-75, 2018 Streszczenie: The present study aims to theoretically model and verify the mechanical behavior of electrospun fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) reinforced by nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF), the three composites designated as PVA/nHAp, PVA/CNF, and PVA/nHAp/CNF. Tensile tests and AFM nanoindentation studies were used to measure tensile modulus of electrospun scaffolds and single fibers respectively. Halpin–Tsai and Ouali models were applied to predict the stiffness of electrospun mats. Theoretical analysis according to the Halpin–Tsai model showed that CNF have no preferred orientation in the electrospun fibers, particularly at higher filler content. Additionally, this model provided a better prediction than Ouali model, especially at lower filler content. Theoretical models based on the geometry of an unit cell in open-cell structure such as honeycomb, tetrakaidecahedron and cube models simulate electrospun scaffolds. Among the structural models for analysis of porous scaffolds, the honeycomb model showed the best prediction, tetrakaidecahedron model—a moderate one, and cube model was the worst. In general, it was proved by both experiment and theory that the porous structure of electrospun mat caused significant modulus reduction of nanocomposites. Słowa kluczowe: Nanocomposites, Cellulose nanofibers, Electrospinning, Modulus Afiliacje autorów:
Enayati M.S. | - | IPPT PAN | Behzad T. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Sajkiewicz P. | - | IPPT PAN | Bagheri R. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Ghasemi-Mobarakeh L. | - | Isfahan University of Technology (IR) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 45p. |
15. |
Lanzi M.♦, Salatelli E.♦, Giorgini L.♦, Marinelli M.♦, Pierini F., Effect of the incorporation of an Ag nanoparticle interlayer on the photovoltaic performance of green bulk heterojunction water-soluble polythiophene solar cells,
POLYMER, ISSN: 0032-3861, DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2018.07.012, Vol.149, pp.273-285, 2018 Streszczenie: Two water-soluble regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s, incorporating aminic groups at the end of the side chains, have been synthesized using a post-polymerization functionalization procedure on a ω-bromine substituted polyalkylthiophene. The high solubility of the obtained polymers in water allowed for the preparation of “green” bulk heterojunction solar cells which reached a power conversion efficiency of 4.85% when PC61BM was used as electron-acceptor material. Improved optical absorption and photocurrent have been obtained by interposing a layer of Ag nanoparticles between the buffer and the photoactive layer, leading to a final power conversion efficiency of 5.51%. Słowa kluczowe: Water-soluble polythiophene, Bulk heterojunction solar cell, Organic photovoltaic Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Salatelli E. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Giorgini L. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Marinelli M. | - | inna afiliacja | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 40p. |
16. |
Pawłowska S., Kowalewski T.A., Pierini F., Fibrous polymer nanomaterials for biomedical applications and their transport by fluids: an overview,
SOFT MATTER, ISSN: 1744-683X, DOI: 10.1039/C8SM01269E, Vol.14, pp.8421-8444, 2018 Streszczenie: Over the past few decades, there has been strong interest in the development of new micro- and nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Their use in the form of capsules, particles or filaments suspended in body fluids is associated with conformational changes and hydrodynamic interactions responsible for their transport. The dynamics of fibres or other long objects in Poiseuille flow is one of the fundamental problems in a variety of biomedical contexts, such as mobility of proteins, dynamics of DNA or other biological polymers, cell movement, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. In this review, we discuss several important applications of micro and nanoobjects in this field and try to understand the problems of their transport in flow resulting from material-environment interactions in typical, crowded, and complex biological fluids. Our aim is to elucidate the relationship between the nano- and microscopic structures of elongated polymer particles and their flow properties, thus opening the possibility to design nanoobjects that can be efficiently transported by body fluids for targeted drug release or local tissue regeneration. Afiliacje autorów:
Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 40p. |
17. |
Urbanek O., Pierini F., Choińska E.♦, Sajkiewicz P., Bil M.♦, Święszkowski W.♦, Effect of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles addition on structure properties of poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) after gamma sterilization,
Polymer Composites, ISSN: 0272-8397, DOI: 10.1002/pc.24028, Vol.39, No.4, pp.1023-1031, 2018 Streszczenie: Physical and chemical factors resulting from the sterilization methods may affect the structure and properties of the materials which undergo this procedure. Poly(l-lactide-co-glicolide) (PLGA) is commonly used for medical applications, but, due to its inadequate mechanical properties, it is not recommended for load-bearing applications. One of the methods for improving PLGA mechanical properties is addition of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nanoparticles addition on PLGA structure and properties after gamma radiation. According to our results, reduction of the molecular mass caused by gamma radiation was lower for PLGA with nHAp addition. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicates an increase of crystallinity caused both by nHAp and gamma radiation. The first phenomenon can be explained by heteronucleation, while the second one is most probably related to higher molecular mobility of degrading polymer. Moreover, addition of nanoparticles increases thermal stability and affects the Young's modulus changes after gamma radiation. Afiliacje autorów:
Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Choińska E. | - | Warsaw University of Technology (PL) | Sajkiewicz P. | - | IPPT PAN | Bil M. | - | Warsaw University of Technology (PL) | Święszkowski W. | - | inna afiliacja |
|  | 30p. |
18. |
Pierini F., Lanzi M.♦, Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Urbanek O., Zembrzycki K., Kowalewski T.A., Single-Material Organic Solar Cells Based on Electrospun Fullerene-Grafted Polythiophene Nanofibers,
Macromolecules, ISSN: 0024-9297, DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00857, Vol.50, No.13, pp.4972-4981, 2017 Streszczenie: Highly efficient single-material organic solar cells (SMOCs) based on fullerene-grafted polythiophenes were fabricated by incorporating electrospun one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures obtained from polymer chain stretching. Poly(3-alkylthiophene) chains were chemically tailored in order to reduce the side effects of charge recombination which severely affected SMOC photovoltaic performance. This enabled us to synthesize a donor–acceptor conjugated copolymer with high solubility, molecular weight, regioregularity, and fullerene content. We investigated the correlations among the active layer hierarchical structure given by the inclusion of electrospun nanofibers and the solar cell photovoltaic properties. The results indicated that SMOC efficiency can be strongly increased by optimizing the supramolecular and nanoscale structure of the active layer, while achieving the highest reported efficiency value (PCE = 5.58%). The enhanced performance may be attributed to well-packed and properly oriented polymer chains. Overall, our work demonstrates that the active material structure optimization obtained by including electrospun nanofibers plays a pivotal role in the development of efficient SMOCs and suggests an interesting perspective for the improvement of copolymer-based photovoltaic device performance using an alternative pathway. Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 45p. |
19. |
Pawłowska S., Nakielski P., Pierini F., Piechocka I.K., Zembrzycki K., Kowalewski T.A., Lateral migration of electrospun hydrogel nanofilaments in an oscillatory flow,
PLOS ONE, ISSN: 1932-6203, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187815, Vol.12, No.11, pp.1-21, 2017 Streszczenie: The recent progress in bioengineering has created great interest in the dynamics and manipulation of long, deformable macromolecules interacting with fluid flow. We report experimental data on the cross-flow migration, bending, and buckling of extremely deformable hydrogel nanofilaments conveyed by an oscillatory flow into a microchannel. The changes in migration velocity and filament orientation are related to the flow velocity and the filament's initial position, deformation, and length. The observed migration dynamics of hydrogel filaments qualitatively confirms the validity of the previously developed worm-like bead-chain hydrodynamic model. The experimental data collected may help to verify the role of hydrodynamic interactions in molecular simulations of long molecular chains dynamics. Afiliacje autorów:
Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Piechocka I.K. | - | IPPT PAN | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 40p. |
20. |
Urbanek O., Sajkiewicz P., Pierini F., The effect of polarity in the electrospinning process on PCL/chitosan nanofibres' structure, properties and efficiency of surface modification,
POLYMER, ISSN: 0032-3861, DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2017.07.064, Vol.124, pp.168-175, 2017 Streszczenie: The aim of this research was to study the effect of charge polarity applied to the spinning nozzle on the structure and properties of polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL/CHT) blends, in particular the efficiency of further surface modification by chondroitin sulphate (CS). The observed differences in the morphology and properties of fibres formed at different polarities were interpreted in terms of molecular interactions occurring in the system. FTIR results indicate stronger PCL-chitosan interactions at negative polarity, resulting in lower PCL crystallinity and crystal size distribution determined by DSC, as well as lower wettability. The charge polarity influences PCL/CHT fibre morphology and tailors some of their properties, e.g. wettability, mechanical properties and the efficiency of surface modification. Better efficiency of CS attachment was observed at negative polarity using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is most probably related to higher chitosan content at the fibres' surface being attracted by the negative external potential. Słowa kluczowe: Polycaprolactone/chitosan nanofibres, Charge potential effect in electrospinning, Polycaprolactone-chitosan interactions Afiliacje autorów:
Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Sajkiewicz P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 40p. |
21. |
Lanzi M.♦, Salatelli E.♦, Giorgini L.♦, Mucci A.♦, Pierini F., Di-Nicola F.P.♦, Water-soluble polythiophenes as efficient charge-transport layers for the improvement of photovoltaic performance in bulk heterojunction polymeric solar cells,
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL, ISSN: 0014-3057, DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.10.032, Vol.97, pp.378-388, 2017 Streszczenie: Water-soluble regioregular poly{3-[(6-sodium sulfonate)hexyl]thiophene} (PT6S) and poly{3-[(6-trimethylammoniumbromide)hexyl]thiophene} (PT6N) have been synthesized and employed both as photoactive layers for the assembling of “green” bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells and as charge-collection layers in a cell with “classic” architecture. While the photovoltaic performances obtained with the two aforementioned polymers were lower than the reference cell, their latter use allowed to notably increase the inherent J-V properties, leading to a considerable enhancement in the overall photovoltaic output. The power conversion efficiency of the optimized multilayer BHJ solar cell reached 4.78%, revealing a higher efficiency than the reference cell (3.63%). Słowa kluczowe: Water-soluble polymer, Polythiophene derivative, Bulk heterojunction, Organic photovoltaic, Interfacial layer Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Salatelli E. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Giorgini L. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Mucci A. | - | University of Modena (IT) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Di-Nicola F.P. | - | University of Bologna (IT) |
|  | 35p. |
22. |
Lanzi M.♦, Salatelli E.♦, Di-Nicola F.P.♦, Zuppiroli L.♦, Pierini F., A new photocrosslinkable oligothiophene for organic solar cells with enhanced stability,
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, ISSN: 0254-0584, DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2016.10.034, Vol.186, pp.98-107, 2017 Streszczenie: A novel thiophenic tetramer containing a cinnamate group in the side chain with a functionalization degree of 50% is reported. The tetramer was obtained by means of a simple and straightforward procedure involving the functionalization of a p-methoxyphenoxy substituted thiophenic precursor, which led to a soluble product with a good yield. The oligomer was fully characterized from a structural and chemical point of view and employed for the fabrication of small molecule organic solar cells exploiting the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) architecture. The presence of an UV-light sensitive group in the tetramer allowed the photocrosslinking of tetramer/PCBM blends, giving high values of photocurrent and conversion efficiency for the exposed samples. Moreover, the UV-treated devices showed improved stability, even upon heating for three days at 130 °C, thus confirming that photocrosslinking can strongly reduce phase segregation under severe operational conditions. Słowa kluczowe: electronic materials, polymers, fullerenes, nanostructures, electrical characterization, semiconductors Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Salatelli E. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Di-Nicola F.P. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Zuppiroli L. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 35p. |
23. |
Urbanek O., Sajkiewicz P., Pierini F., Czerkies M., Kołbuk D., Structure and properties of polycaprolactone/chitosan nonwovens tailored by solvent systems,
Biomedical Materials, ISSN: 1748-6041, DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/aa5647, Vol.12, No.1, pp.015020-1-12, 2017 Streszczenie: Electrospinning of chitosan blends is a reasonable idea to prepare fibre mats for biomedical applications. Synthetic and natural components provide, for example, appropriate mechanical strength and biocompatibility, respectively. However, solvent characteristics and the polyelectrolyte nature of chitosan influence the spinnability of these blends. In order to compare the effect of solvent on polycaprolactone/chitosan fibres, two types of the most commonly used solvent systems were chosen, namely 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) and acetic acid (AA)/formic acid (FA). Results obtained by various experimental methods clearly indicated the effect of the solvent system on the structure and properties of electrospun polycaprolactone/chitosan fibres. Viscosity measurements confirmed different polymer–solvent interactions. Various molecular interactions resulting in different macromolecular conformations of chitosan influenced its spinnability and properties. HFIP enabled fibres to be obtained whose average diameter was less than 250 nm while maintaining the brittle and hydrophilic character of the nonwoven, typical for the chitosan component. Spectroscopy studies revealed the formation of chitosan salts in the case of the AA/FA solvent system. Chitosan salts visibly influenced the structure and properties of the prepared fibre mats. The use of AA/FA caused a reduction of Young's modulus and wettability of the proposed blends. It was confirmed that wettability, mechanical properties and the antibacterial effect of polycaprolactone/chitosan fibres may be tailored by selecting an appropriate solvent system. The MTT cell proliferation assay revealed an increase of cytotoxicity to mouse fibroblasts in the case of 25% w/w of chitosan in electrospun nonwovens. Słowa kluczowe: chitosan, electrospinning, PCL/chitosan fibres, solvent system, chitosan salts Afiliacje autorów:
Urbanek O. | - | IPPT PAN | Sajkiewicz P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Czerkies M. | - | IPPT PAN | Kołbuk D. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 30p. |
24. |
Pierini F., Lanzi M.♦, Nakielski P., Kowalewski T.A., Electrospun Polyaniline-Based Composite Nanofibers: Tuning the Electrical Conductivity by Tailoring the Structure of Thiol-Protected Metal Nanoparticles,
Journal of Nanomaterials, ISSN: 1687-4110, DOI: 10.1155/2017/6142140, Vol.2017, pp.6142140-1-10, 2017 Streszczenie: Composite nanofibers made of a polyaniline-based polymer blend and different thiol-capped metal nanoparticles were prepared using ex situ synthesis and electrospinning technique. The effects of the nanoparticle composition and chemical structure on the electrical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. This study confirmed that Brust's procedure is an effective method for the synthesis of sub-10 nm silver, gold, and silver-gold alloy nanoparticles protected with different types of thiols. Electron microscopy results demonstrated that electrospinning is a valuable technique for the production of composite nanofibers with similar morphology and revealed that nanofillers are well-dispersed into the polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction tests proved the lack of a significant influence of the nanoparticle chemical structure on the polyaniline chain arrangement. However, the introduction of conductive nanofillers in the polymer matrix influences the charge transport noticeably improving electrical conductivity. The enhancement of electrical properties is mediated by the nanoparticle capping layer structure. The metal nanoparticle core composition is a key parameter, which exerted a significant influence on the conductivity of the nanocomposites. These results prove that the proposed method can be used to tune the electrical properties of nanocomposites. Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 30p. |
25. |
Pierini F., Lanzi M.♦, Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Zembrzycki K., Kowalewski T.A., Electrospun poly(3-hexylthiophene)/poly(ethylene oxide)/graphene oxide composite nanofibers: effects of graphene oxide reduction,
Polymers for Advanced Technologies, ISSN: 1042-7147, DOI: 10.1002/pat.3816, Vol.27, No.11, pp.1465-1475, 2016 Streszczenie: In this article, we report on the production by electrospinning of P3HT/PEO, P3HT/PEO/GO, and P3HT/PEO/rGO nanofibers in which the filler is homogeneously dispersed and parallel oriented along the fibers axis. The effect of nanofillers' presence inside nanofibers and GO reduction was studied, in order to reveal the influence of the new hierarchical structure on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. An in-depth characterization of the purity and regioregularity of the starting P3HT as well as the morphology and chemical structure of GO and rGO was carried out. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was examined by both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The fibrous nanocomposites are also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry to investigate their chemical structure and polymer chains arrangements. Finally, the electrical conductivity of the electrospun fibers and the elastic modulus of the single fibers are evaluated using a four-point probe method and atomic force microscopy nanoindentation, respectively. The electrospun materials crystallinity as well as the elastic modulus increase with the addition of the nanofillers while the electrical conductivity is positively influenced by the GO reduction. Słowa kluczowe: electrospun composite nanofibers, poly(3-hexylthiophene), graphene oxide, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 30p. |
26. |
Pierini F., Zembrzycki K., Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Kowalewski T.A., Atomic force microscopy combined with optical tweezers (AFM/OT),
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ISSN: 0957-0233, DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/27/2/025904, Vol.27, pp.025904-1-11, 2016 Streszczenie: The role of mechanical properties is essential to understand molecular, biological materials, and nanostructures dynamics and interaction processes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the most commonly used method of direct force evaluation, but due to its technical limitations this single probe technique is unable to detect forces with femtonewton resolution. In this paper we present the development of a combined atomic force microscopy and optical tweezers (AFM/OT) instrument. The focused laser beam, on which optical tweezers are based, provides us with the ability to manipulate small dielectric objects and to use it as a high spatial and temporal resolution displacement and force sensor in the same AFM scanning zone. We demonstrate the possibility to develop a combined instrument with high potential in nanomechanics, molecules manipulation and biological studies. AFM/OT equipment is described and characterized by studying the ability to trap dielectric objects and quantifying the detectable and applicable forces. Finally, optical tweezers calibration methods and instrument applications are given. Słowa kluczowe: optical trap, nanomanipulation, nanomechanics, femtonewton forces Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 30p. |
27. |
Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Pierini F., Liwińska W.♦, Hejduk P.♦, Zembrzycki K., Zabost E.♦, Kowalewski T.A., Hydrogel nanofilaments via core-shell electrospinning,
PLOS ONE, ISSN: 1932-6203, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129816, Vol.10, No.6, pp.e0129816-1-16, 2015 Streszczenie: Recent biomedical hydrogels applications require the development of nanostructures with controlled diameter and adjustable mechanical properties. Here we present a technique for the production of flexible nanofilaments to be used as drug carriers or in microfluidics, with deformability and elasticity resembling those of long DNA chains. The fabrication method is based on the core-shell electrospinning technique with core solution polymerisation post electrospinning. Produced from the nanofibers highly deformable hydrogel nanofilaments are characterised by their Brownian motion and bending dynamics. The evaluated mechanical properties are compared with AFM nanoindentation tests.
Correction: Hydrogel Nanofilaments via Core-Shell Electrospinning, Nakielski P., Pawłowska S., Pierini F., Liwińska W., Hejduk P., Zembrzycki K., Zabost E., Kowalewski T.A., PLOS ONE, ISSN: 1932-6203, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133458, Vol.10, No.7, pp.e0133458-1-2, 2015
 Słowa kluczowe: Gels, Nanomaterials, Atomic force microscopy, Polymerization, Bending, Mass diffusivity, Mechanical properties, Hydrodynamics Afiliacje autorów:
Nakielski P. | - | IPPT PAN | Pawłowska S. | - | IPPT PAN | Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Liwińska W. | - | inna afiliacja | Hejduk P. | - | inna afiliacja | Zembrzycki K. | - | IPPT PAN | Zabost E. | - | Uniwersytet Warszawski (PL) | Kowalewski T.A. | - | IPPT PAN |
|  | 40p. |
28. |
Pierini F., Lanzi M.♦, Lesci I.G.♦, Roveri N.♦, Comparison between Inorganic Geomimetic Chrysotile and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in the Preparation of One-dimensional Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites,
Fibers and Polymers, ISSN: 1229-9197, DOI: 10.1007/s12221-015-0426-x, Vol.16, No.2, pp.426-433, 2015 Streszczenie: The aim of this study was to examine the role of the nanofillers spatial arrangement in the electrical properties of hybrid organic-inorganic fibers. In this paper, we have presented experimental results for preparation of fibers with a nanometric diameter based on a polyaniline/poly(ethylene oxide) doped blend and geomimetic chrysotile nanotubes. The nanostructured material was prepared using electrospinning techniques. Electrospun fibers made by pristine polymers and by the same blend loaded with carbon nanotubes were used as reference materials to compare the structural, and electrical properties of the novel organic-inorganic material. Generally, electrical properties were improved by the addition of materials that have high conductivity. Electrospun fibers filled with a traditional insulator like chrysotile have shown higher electrical conductivity than the pristine materials. In order to fully understand how structural variations impact upon the electrical conductivity the materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (RS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and four-point probe method. The results suggest that the occurred electrical conductivity gain could be attributed to parallel orientation of the chrysotile nanotubes and higher crystallinity induced by the one-dimensional nanostructured filler materials. The obtained results bring us one step closer to using intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) in the creation of functionalized polymeric nanocomposites for nanotechnology. Słowa kluczowe: Nanocomposites, Conductive polymer, Electrospinning, Chrysotile, Carbon nanotubes Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | IPPT PAN | Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Lesci I.G. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Roveri N. | - | University of Bologna (IT) |
|  | 25p. |
29. |
Lesci I.G.♦, Balducci G.♦, Pierini F.♦, Soavi F.♦, Roveri N.♦, Surface features and thermal stability of mesoporous Fe doped geoinspired synthetic chrysotile nanotubes,
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, ISSN: 1387-1811, DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2014.06.002, Vol.197, pp.8-16, 2014 Streszczenie: Synthetic mesoporous Fe doped geoinspired nanotubes have been utilized to evaluate the modification of the surface composition, morphology charge distribution and thermal stability as functions of the Fe doping extent and Fe prevalent substitution into the octahedral or tetrahedral sites. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy analysis has allowed to highlight the chrysotile structure modification by the Fe substitution to Mg or Si and to underline clearly the crucial role of the Fe doping in the octahedral sheet in modifying chrysotile structure and morphology. XPS analysis, ζ-potentials and porosity characterization have allowed to define the propriety of the chrysotile surface structure when iron replaces Mg in octahedral or Si in tetrahedral sites. DTA analysis has allowed to relate the effect of Fe doping on the chemical–physical characteristics of both synthetic and mineral chrysotile. We have observed that the simultaneous decrease in dehydroxylation and recrystallization temperature occurs when the Fe increases on surface and this is due to the increased substitution of Fe in octahedron. The results highlight the relevance to estimate the health hazard of the natural asbestos fibres by valuating the role of Fe surface throughout the use of geoinspired chrysotile synthesised under controlled stoichiometry and structure utilizing it as a selected reference standard. Słowa kluczowe: Asbestos, Mesoporous synthetic chrysotile, Geoinspired inorganic nanotubes, Fe doped chrysotile, Surface functionalities Afiliacje autorów:
Lesci I.G. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Balducci G. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Pierini F. | - | inna afiliacja | Soavi F. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Roveri N. | - | University of Bologna (IT) |
|  | 35p. |
30. |
Lanzi M.♦, Paganin L.♦, Pierini F.♦, Errani F.♦, Di-Nicola F.P.♦, Use of poly(3-methylthio)thiophene blends for direct laser tracing and bulck heterojunction solar cells,
REACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS, ISSN: 1381-5148, DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.07.007, Vol.83, pp.33-41, 2014 Streszczenie: In this article we demonstrate the use of a blend made of two regioregular polythiophenic derivatives, namely poly(3-methylthio)thiophene and poly(3-hexyl)thiophene, to obtain conductive traces by the simple laser exposure of their thin films to a suitable laser source. The polymeric blend was also tested as a photoactive layer for BHJ solar cells, showing an improved surface morphology and a wider absorption spectrum, thus resulting in an enhanced photovoltaic performance. In the standard condition normally used for the cell preparation, we obtained a 3.16% power conversion efficiency. The device showed good reproducibility and stability over time. Słowa kluczowe: Electrical conductivity, Laser tracing, Bulk heterojunction polymeric solar cells, Regioregular polyalkylthiophenes, Polymer blends Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Paganin L. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Pierini F. | - | inna afiliacja | Errani F. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Di-Nicola F.P. | - | University of Bologna (IT) |
|  | 35p. |
31. |
Lanzi M.♦, Di-Nicola F.P.♦, Livi M.♦, Paganin L.♦, Cappelli F.♦, Pierini F.♦, Synthesis and characterization of conjugated polymers for the obtainment of conductive patterns through laser tracing,
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE, ISSN: 0022-2461, DOI: 10.1007/s10853-013-7204-1, Vol.48, pp.3877-3893, 2013 Streszczenie: This article describes the preparation of thin films of conjugated polymers which can enhance their specific electrical conductivity by several orders of magnitude by changing their state from insulating to conducting materials. The examined polymers, i.e., a polyacetylenic and a polythiophenic derivative, are functionalized with thioalkylic side chains and are soluble in common organic solvents from which they lead to thick homogeneous films. The films can be deposited on different substrates, either rigid or flexible, and can be easily exposed to laser radiation to make them conductive. The process is irreversible, and the final conductivity is stable over time, even in the presence of high temperatures (up to 180°C), moisture, and air. The high stability of treated samples, easy polymer synthesis and quick and inexpensive suitably tailored laser tracing procedure make these materials very promising for applications in organic electronics and in the development of new electronic circuitry. Afiliacje autorów:
Lanzi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Di-Nicola F.P. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Livi M. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Paganin L. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Cappelli F. | - | Stem S.a.s. (IT) | Pierini F. | - | inna afiliacja |
|  | 30p. |
32. |
Pierini F.♦, Foresti E.♦, Fracasso G.♦, Lesci I.G.♦, Roveri N.♦, Potential Technological Applications of Synthetic Geomimetic Nanotubes,
ISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, ISSN: 0021-2148, DOI: 10.1002/ijch.201000062, Vol.50, pp.484-499, 2010 Streszczenie: Geomimetic chrysotile nanotubes have a high potentiality in nanotechnological applications. These synthetic inorganic nanotubes can be used to prepare quantum wires with interesting electrical and optical properties. In fact, they behave as host systems, exhibiting a constant inner diameter inferior to 7 nm, a low tendency to aggregate and large inter-channel separation, preventing the interaction between individual guest filled nanomaterial acting as an unisosotropic confining structure. The chemical-physical properties of undoped and differently Fe doped geoinspired chrysotile synthetic nanotubes have been reviewed confirming that these characteristic features make synthetic chrysotile nanotubes excellent candidates to prepare innovative inorganic nanowires. Furthermore, the possibility to synthesize undoped geomimetic chrysotile nanotubes with high reproducibility and crystallinity avoids cytotoxicity, making them safe for human health. Słowa kluczowe: chrysotile, geomimetic nanostructures, inorganic nanotubes, nanotechnology, nanowires Afiliacje autorów:
Pierini F. | - | inna afiliacja | Foresti E. | - | inna afiliacja | Fracasso G. | - | inna afiliacja | Lesci I.G. | - | University of Bologna (IT) | Roveri N. | - | University of Bologna (IT) |
|  | 27p. |